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In a traditional architectural project, the process often begins with an idea or a sketch. Material choices come later, when it is time to decide on a facade, floors or windows. But if buildings are to make greater use of reused materials, as called for by current climate conditions and national and international guidelines, that order needs to change. Materials need to enter the process early, and the architect may take on a new task: seeing possibilities in what already exists.

This is the starting point of the research article "Architecture and gathering: on spatiality, conception and revaluation in material reuse practice," published in the Archnet-IJAR: International Journal of Architectural Research.

In it, Daniel Norell, an architect and senior lecturer at Chalmers University of Technology's Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering, and Einar Rodhe of KTH Royal Institute of Technology develop a theoretical framework for understanding what happens when architects design around material reuse. They also explored the idea in a case study: the Raamland project, built using reused materials as part of the Art and Architecture Triennial in Bruges, Belgium.

The researchers use the concept of "gathering," which goes beyond simply using secondhand building elements. They propose a shift in how and where the design process begins.

"The starting point of an architect's assignment or work does not necessarily have to be developing a concept or making a sketch for a new building.

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